HOUSTON – As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history nears its end, the devastating impact continues to ripple through American families – from empty kitchen cabinets to holiday travel nightmares.
For Leondera Levy, a disabled single mother of two who also cares for her own mother while battling degenerative bone disease, the Senate’s vote to reopen the government offers little immediate comfort. Her family’s monthly SNAP food benefits have gone from $768.00 to just $56.00 so far this month, leaving her struggling to feed her children.
“No Christmas presents for the kids,” Levy said, her voice heavy with emotion. “I would have started buying already, and I don’t see that happening.”
Families Face Hunger as Benefits Lag
The shutdown’s resolution brings little immediate relief for SNAP recipients like Levy. Her children, Chloe and Corey, ask daily about Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas celebrations, questions she struggles to answer with only $56 in food assistance received this month – far less than one-tenth of her usual benefits.
Airport Chaos Threatens Holiday Travel
The shutdown’s effects extend beyond dinner tables to airport terminals nationwide. With 482 staffing-related incidents reported nationwide since the shutdown began and nearly 3,000 flight cancellations last Sunday alone, Thanksgiving travelers face potential chaos.
Josh Verde, an aviation attorney and former commercial pilot, warns that recovery won’t be immediate. “Whenever we’re talking about commercial flights and airline operations, it takes time to get back to normal,” Verde said. “We’re going to see delays for days and hopefully no more than a week, but we’re so close to the holiday travel season, there could be big problems for holiday travelers.”
Travel Tips for Thanksgiving
For those planning to fly during Thanksgiving, Verde emphasizes early preparation. He recommends travelers:
- Book early morning flights
- Pack only carry-on luggage when possible
- Prepare for potential delays
Looking Forward
While the Senate’s measure promises to end the shutdown, the timing of full SNAP benefit restoration remains uncertain. For families like Levy’s, each passing day brings more uncertainty about putting food on the table for her mother and her two children.
That’s not even considering her most cherished hopes of maintaining her Christmas holiday traditions for her kids.
Government officials have yet to announce when SNAP recipients can expect their full benefits to resume, leaving thousands of families in limbo as the holiday season approaches.